We've had quite an outpouring on this Poll, a kind of departure from the usual questions like "Who's the greatest guitarist?", etc, etc. I had no idea the email would come in like it had. But that's absolutely fine because if someone thinks a guitarist is underrated, and we may not have heard of him/her, then we obviously want to know about them. It's not even how well they played but what they extracted from their instruments that mattered too. In any case, there were so many that I have to break it down ovcer several posts. Once we have had a chance to get them all posted, I'll bring them together for a final tally.

Many respondants have asked that we do this for drummers, bassists, etc. Great idea! I think that we'll do just that. For right now, here's our chance to pick up on what some thought were underrated guitarists. Here we go:

• David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) (multiple selection)
• John Martyn
• Steve Lukather (Toto)
• Alex Lifeson (Rush) (multiple selection)
• Rik Emmett (Triumph) (multiple selection)
• Snowy White (Pink Floyd/Thin Lizzy)
• Jeff Buckley
• James Mankey (Concrete Blonde)
• Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna) (multiple selection)
• Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead) (multiple selection)
• Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers) (multiple selection)
• Mike Slamer (City Boy)
• Martin Barre (Jethro Tull) (Multiple selection)
• Tommy Shaw (Styx/Damn Yankees) (multiple selection)
• George Kooymans (Golden Earring)
• Neil Young (multiple selection)
• Johnny Greenwood (RadioHead)
• Danny Heines
• Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Steely Dan) (multiple selection)
• Ronnie Wood (Jeff Beck Group/Faces/Rolling Stones) (multiple selection)
• Tommy Bolin (Zephyr/James Gang/Deep Purple) (multiple selection)
• Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze)
• John McGeoch (Magazine/Visage/Siouxie and the Banshees)
• Robin Trower (Procol Harem/The Paramounts) (multiple selection)
• Andy Summers (Police)
• Andrew Latimer (Camel)
• Lindsay Buckingham (Buckingham/Nicks/Fleetwood Mac) (multiple selection)
• Nile Rogers
• Billy Squier (Piper)
• Frank Zappa (The Mothers of Invention) (multiple selection)
• KK Downing/Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest - always mentioned together) (multiple selection)
• Kerry Livgren (Kansas)
• Alvin Lee (Ten Years After) (multiple selection)
• Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash) (multiple selection)
• Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins)
• Randy California (Spirit)
• Paul Chapman (UFO)
• Steve Rothery (Marillion/The Wishing Tree) (multiple selection)
• Brad Whitford (Aerosmith)
• Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) (multiple selection)
• Prince
• George Harrison (Beatles) (multiple selection)
• Joe Walsh (James Gang/Eagles) (multiple selection)
• Rich Williams (Kansas)
• Steve Hackett (Genesis/GTR)
• Roger Hodgson (Supertramp)
• Jay Graydon (Steely Dan)
• Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)
• Daryl Stuermer (Phil Collins/Genesis)
• Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine)
• Albert Lee (EmmyLou Harris)
• Pat Metheny
• Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention) (multiple selection)
• Tim Renwick (Sutherland Brothers & Quiver/Al Stewart/Pink Floyd)
• Allen Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
• Rick Derringer (The McCoys/Derringer/Winter Brothers) (multiple selection)
• John Frusciante (RHCP)
• Carl Wilson (Beach Boys)
• Steve Stevens (Billy Idol)
• Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osborne/Quiet Riot) (multiple selection)
• Francis Lickerish (The Enid)
• Neal Schon (Santana/Journey) (multiple selection)
• Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
• Silver Kouloris (Aphrodite's Child)
• Gary Moore (Skid Row/Thin Lizzy)
• Porl Thompson (The Cure/Malice)
• Steve Gaines (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
• Tommy Tedesco

And I'm gonna stop right there. Frankly, I don't know of any other way to present this. It's a list and it's a long list. As the posts go by, some of these single list names will no doubt move to multiple selection status. At the end, when all have been posted, I'll shake things up to put multiple vote-getters at the top, larger first. One thing this list really highlights is just how varied our tastes are as well as our devotions. Wow! What a list. And we're barely finished with it.

Finally, we're following the charitable benefits for Orange County musician, Michael Ubaldini, who is suffering a rare infection surrounding his heart valve. He has been hospitalized and that means high bills, which has been mounting since Thanksgiving of last year. On January 31 at Tumbleweeds Saloon in Huntington Beach. Click here for the flyer, and here for more info on how to contribute if you feel it in your heart.

We'll be back on Friday with more Underrated Guitarist Poll selections.

Here's a great big hug for Mary Traeger, whom I recently reconnected with on FaceBook. So nice to get back with your friends again! 27 years!

Robert Metcalf has turned in a review of The Underfall Yard by Big Big Train. We hope that you'll take the time to check the review out and then the band and their album, especially if you're not familiar with them.

Varese Sarabande Records has pencilled in the upcoming release of Performance from Art Tatum, scheduling the CD for March 9. Other upcoming Varese Sarabande titles include The Best of Buster Brown (Buster Brown) on March 9, The Best of Louis Prima (Louis Prima), also on March 9, and The Wolfman soundtrack by Danny Elfman, scheduled for February 23.

Concord Records have a few titles coming that includes Live at the Ryman from Johnny Lang (April 20), and Bom Tempo from Sergio Mendes (April 6).

UMe Imports will release The Complete Peel Sessions for Mercury Rev on March 23, and The Complete A & B Side: 1961-1968 for The Impressions, also on March 23.

Savoy Records will release Convict of Conviction by Sonya Kitchell on March 23.

Fantasy Records plan the release of Double Shot: Live at the Whisky A Go-Go for Otis Redding on May 4.

I have notes of a few DD album releases that include Then and Now (Slaughter) on February 16, It's Hard (The Who) on February 2, and 14 Love Songs for the 14th (Rascal Flatts) on February 9,